John Smith - Corruption in Urban Politics and Society, Britain 1780–1950

Edited by

JAMES MOORE

University of London

and

JOHN SMITH

University of Leicester

First published 2007 by Ashgate Publishing

Published 2016 by Routledge

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Copyright James Moore and John Smith 2007

all rights reserved. no part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

James Moore and John Smith have asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the editors of this work.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Corruption in urban politics and society, Britain 17801950. (Historical urban studies)

1. Political corruption Great Britain History 19th century 2. Political corruption Great Britain History 20th century 3. Municipal government Great Britain History 19th century 4. Municipal government Great Britain History 20th century 5. Great Britain Politics and government 19th century 6. Great Britain Politics and government 20th century I. Moore, James II. Smith, John

364.13230941

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Corruption in urban politics and society, Britain 17801950 / edited by James Moore and John Smith. p. cm. (Historical urban studies series)

Includes index.

1. Municipal governmentCorrupt practicesGreat BritainHistory. 2. Local governmentCorrupt practicesGreat BritainHistory. 3. Political corruptionGreat BritainHistory. I. Moore, James R., 1972 II. Smith, John, 19322005

JS3025.C67 2007

364.1323094109034dc22

2006032260

ISBN 9780754637059 (hbk)

for John Smith

John Smith, the co-editor of this volume, died in July 2005, a few months before this volume went to press. His positive input to and conception of the project was typical of his energetic approach to work, history, friendship, and life in general. It is particularly sad that John did not see this volume published, though he would have found no little amusement in the fact that his death meant that none of those cited in the volume, particularly the subject of his own chapter, the disgraced Varley, could then sue him.

A congenial manner, a conversational delight, and a man whose sense of fun and irony were never long suppressed no matter the circumstance, John Smith made important contributions to the community of urban historians at the Centre for Urban History in Leicester. He was an excellent listener, could identify with all ages, and would invariably find some common ground in history or current affairs to discuss with anyone, and everyone. He quietly reassured many anxious undergraduates, hundreds of whom he tutored in twentieth-century history, and on whose essays he carefully crafted the constructive comments for which all too many academics nowadays find little time. To reveal, to explain, to enhance understanding were the foundations of a teaching method that was patient and caring. Academic posturing and obfuscation were never his stock in trade. Johns public presentations and conference papers were invariably clear: How to survive your supervisor was both an amusing and insightful paper John delivered to graduate students, and his accounts of graft and corruption in Wolverhampton brought laughter to the seminar room.

In short, John Smith was a generous man. He was also a splendid communicator. Through his contributions to this volume, publications on urban elites, a company history on a firm of auctioneers, Farebrothers (1999), and the annual bibliography for Urban History, John made important contributions to scholarship. His thesis, The governance of Wolverhampton, 18481888 (Leicester, 2001) was a second PhD; the first was awarded in the 1950s in what he termed a previous life as an industrial chemist and textile specialist when he had contributed to the development of flame-retardant fabric. Subsequently, he worked for Courtaulds and lived in the north-east where he set up two major manufacturing plants before moving to Leicester to work for twenty years in the textile industry before his passion for history and Victorian art were given a freer rein in an MA in Victorian Studies and a second PhD. This wider business experience and his sporting abilities as a county squash player, not to mention an affection for Wolverhampton Wanderers, gave a sense of perspective, as did his unstinting commitment to his family, his voluntary work and contributions to business education in local schools. John was no one-dimensional academic.

This volume is dedicated to John Smith and the memories of him held dear by so many who worked with him, and especially by the students whose interest in history he fostered.

Richard Rodger

Leicester, May 2006

James Moore and John Smith

John Garrard

Rosemary Sweet

Gary Wilson and Sarah Wilson

Adrian Jarvis

James Moore

John Smith

Clare Griffiths

Chris A. Williams

John Garrard is a Senior Lecturer in politics and contemporary history in the School of English, Sociology, Politics and Contemporary History at the University of Salford.

Rosemary Sweet is Professor of urban history and Director of the Centre for Urban History at the University of Leicester.

Sarah Wilson is a Lecturer in company law at the School of Law, Keele University.

Gary Wilson is a Lecturer in contract law, company law and business regulation of the School of Law, Keele University.

Adrian Jarvis was formerly Curator of port history at Merseyside Maritime Museum and is a Lecturer in the Centre for Port and Maritime History at the University of Liverpool.